“When Order No. 1000 was first proposed three years ago, I promised to do my part to ensure that this Commission does not lose sight of the ultimate goal: a final rule that results in needed capital investment. I said that the ultimate objective is critical, as the lack of adequate transmission investments often disproportionately raises consumer rates due to congestion, threatens the reliability of the nation’s bulk power system, and increases reliance on older and dirtier generating resources.

“While my decision to dissent on these orders was difficult, the orders as drafted were too unbalanced in favor of rulings that discourage the construction of needed transmission. As I observed in my partial dissent on Order No. 1000, “instead of encouraging more regional cooperation, the rule could ultimately discourage such cooperation by encouraging more local transmission projects.”